Auckland City Limits

Ten acts added today include five more international artists to join headliners Kendrick Lamar and The National and others at the one-day festival on Saturday, 19 March 2016. With 25 of forty artists now announced and a final announcement still to come, the promoters point to a well-rounded bill that has music fans salivating.

Hi-tek soul legends Fat Freddy's Drop lead the second lineup announcement for Auckland City Limits. They have been riding an incredible summer of sell-out live shows courtesy of their acclaimed new album Bays and perform at ACL on the eve of their departure for another massive world tour. Fifteen years into their career, Freddy's are New Zealand's premier live music juggernaut and not to be missed.

Modest Mouse, who became alternative rock million sellers with "Float On", have just a single previous appearance here, a sold out show in Auckland in 2011. The Portland band continue to deliver quirky hits in the form of 2015's "Lampshades On Fire".

Emergent heavy rockers Highly Suspect also join the bill. This Grammy nominated New York trio have topped rock radio playlists in recent months with "Lydia" and earned comparisons to Queens of the Stone Age and Kings of Leon.

Australian Jarryd James makes his live debut in this country. His Joel Little-produced "Do You Remember" was an ARIA Award winning radio smash on both sides of the Tasman. He is joined by another emerging indie act from over the Tasman, Gang of Youths.

Arguably the most intriguing and exciting new name on the bill is California jazzman Kamasi Washington. The saxophonist's stunning album The Epic made many 2015 year-end lists and his influence as a musician writing and performing on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly has been widely acknowledged as that groundbreaking album continues to make waves.

Also appearing are local festival favourites, Shapeshifter and Broods. The Nott siblings of Nelson can match any band in the world for air-miles accumulation in a fantastically successful 2015 and will be bringing new music to the ACL stage from the upcoming follow-up to Evergreen.

Plus we have the hugely anticipated return of Ladyhawke. The LA-based "My Delirium" star returns with new music next month in advance of her third album and Auckland City Limits will be Ladyhawke's first show back in New Zealand in almost four years.

And the new Auckland act on the bill are Racing - the thrilling rockers emerging from the ashes of the much-loved Checks.

Auckland City Limits Music Festival will announce additional performers in coming weeks, as well as details about Auckland Eats, local artworks, an artisanal market, Auckland Kiddie Limits and more.